This local ox/rhinoceros beetle is native to the Southern US and the tropics. Populations are much higher in the tropics than the US. It is considered a pest on palm plantations. It has the potential to kill young palms in Texas landscapes. It tends to attack non-woody palms. The adults do the damage.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

7.5 years later: I'm very happy to report that I have not lost one more palm to the ox beetle. I lost three palms within 2 weeks in 2008 which was pretty devastating at the time.

I mulched my palms with rocks. I cut the ends of cheap nursery pots, slipped it over the palm and used it to hold the rocks. I also used hardware cloth for one palm, but wouldn't recommend it, because I left the hardware cloth in place for too long.

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About Me

A San Antonio gardener who usually has had pretty good luck until the rhinoceros/ ox beetle killed my palms.
The purpose of this blog is to "spread the word".
Secondly, hopefully some of the research articles can help define the problem.
Such as habitat etc.
No one has enough time to do all of this research, but me, because it's my problem.
I figured I might as well share the research in this little blog.
Google Translator is added to the bottom of the webpage.